Responding to the publication of the report of the Chief Nursing Officer for England?s report on mixed-sex wards the Royal College of Nursing General Secretary Peter Carter said.
?The RCN welcomes the CNO’s determination to tackle mixed sex wards. However the fact that the government promised to tackle this problem ten years ago cannot be ignored.
?We realise that sometimes mixing of patients will occur, such as in highly specialised departments such as Intensive Care Units and emergency admissions, where the need to admit a patient for care takes priority over the need for segregation, but again staff must ensure that the patients dignity is paramount by ensuring there is privacy in the immediate treatment area.
?NHS targets have not been met in this area and patients are still being cared for in mixed accommodation sharing facilities and this must be addressed with some urgency.?